Issue - meetings

Further to Minute 114 (24 March 2015), the Cabinet Member for Finance, Performance and Core Services presented a report on the proposal to enter into a new Framework Agreement with LASER, a company owned by Kent County Council that procured energy on behalf of local authorities, to act as the Council’s specialist energy procurement broker. 

The Cabinet Member explained that LASER had recently negotiated a new energy supply contract that was due to commence on 1 October 2020.  Authorities wishing to participate in the new arrangement were required to confirm their intention to renew their contract before 30 September 2018, as the current agreement with LASER required 24 months’ notice of termination.  The new contract would be for a maximum four-year period and would ensure that the Council continued to benefit from the effective risk management approach offered via the economically advantageous terms negotiated by LASER.

The Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Approve the appointment of LASER as the Council’s broker to procure gas and electricity supplies in accordance with the procurement strategy set out in the report; and

(ii)  Authorise the Chief Operating Officer, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance, Performance and Core Services and the Director of Law and Governance, to finalise any specific terms of the contract, choose the appropriate framework with LASER, enter into the call-off contract under the framework agreement, and do all things necessary to facilitate the execution, implementation and operation of the contract, including any extension agreement to comply with the Authority’s agreed procurement and management.